"I've gone to the FreeBSD.org; it would be nice if the updated their website. Their SMP page hasn't been updated since 02/25/2007 - I"m sure something has happened in 1 year!"

On the contrary, I find the FreeBSD website one of the more commonly updated websites. What you are referring to is a legacy page that has been kept there for historical reasons only. Since 2/25/2007, the SMP project has been deemed successfully completed and that page will no longer be updated. If you want a status of what has happened and what needs work, go here: http://wiki.freebsd.org/SMPTODO

"I know I'm going to get slammed for this, but lets face the reality of the situation, if a budding programmer is looking for a project to contribute to - are they going to contribute to a project that appears (through the lack of updating the website) on deaths door or look at a project where there is constant buzz, communication and drive to inform the public where the project is heading."

What project the programmer chooses really depends on what kind of programmer the budding programmer wants to be. If he wants to be a real programmer, the choices are pretty limited to kernels, compilers, languages, and databases. If you want to do kernels, I personally think FreeBSD stacks up better against Solaris and Linux as it is also an advanced kernel that gives you the opportunity to make an impact within the project in terms of both code and design, that allows you to work in a true team/project setting, and that provides for a consistent vision throughout. Unless you work for Sun, you will be basically restricted to bug fixes for life. Similarly, Linux development is such a mess with poor standards and a kernel that changes rapidly without reason, that also will lead any new developer to a life of bug fixes.